Oral Microbiome Dynamics in Denture Wearers

The oral cavity of denture wearers hosts a complex and evolving microbial ecosystem shaped by the introduction of artificial surfaces, host immunity and hygiene practices. Denture materials offer novel niches for biofilm formation, promoting interactions among bacterial and fungal species that diverge from those on natural teeth. Over time, microbial succession can shift from a balanced commensal community to one characterised by opportunistic pathogens, a process termed dysbiosis. Such changes are implicated in denture stomatitis, mucosal inflammation beneath the prosthesis, and may even contribute to systemic risks such as respiratory infections. Factors influencing these dynamics include prosthesis design, surface roughness, frequency of cleaning and salivary flow. Understanding how microbiota establish, mature and respond to interventions is critical for improving prosthesis design, refining oral hygiene regimens and reducing disease burden among an ageing population worldwide.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that infrequent denture cleaning in community-dwelling older adults is significantly associated with a higher incidence of pneumonia, suggesting that routine removal of biofilm from prosthetic surfaces may confer systemic benefits. In parallel, microbial community profiling of denture-associated stomatitis has revealed a marked reduction in bacterial diversity on the tongue of affected individuals, while the microbiota of palatal mucosa and denture-fitting surfaces share a closely similar composition. Specific bacterial taxa have been identified whose presence or absence correlates with inflammatory changes, highlighting the need for targeted in vitro and in vivo investigations into their roles in fungal–bacterial interactions and mucosal health.

Oral Microbiome Dynamics in Denture Wearers publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in oral microbiome dynamics in denture wearers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Oral microbiome: The complex community of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that inhabit the mouth.

Biofilm: A structured aggregation of microbial cells embedded within a self-produced matrix attached to a surface.

Dysbiosis: A state of microbial imbalance associated with disease or dysfunction.

Denture stomatitis: Inflammation of the oral mucosa beneath a denture, often linked to biofilm-associated microbes.

Metagenomic sequencing: A culture-independent method to analyse genetic material from entire microbial communities simultaneously.

References

1. Characterization of pathogenic microbiome on removable prostheses with different levels of cleanliness using 2bRAD-M metagenomic sequencing. Journal of Oral Microbiology (2024).
2. Characterization of the Oral Microbiome in Wearers of Fixed and Removable Implant or Non-Implant-Supported Prostheses in Healthy and Pathological Oral Conditions: A Narrative Review. Microorganisms (2023).
3. Prevalence of respiratory pathogens colonizing on removable dental prostheses in healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Prosthodontics (2023).
4. Infrequent Denture Cleaning Increased the Risk of Pneumonia among Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Population-based Cross-sectional Study. Scientific Reports (2019).
5. Molecular community profiling of the bacterial microbiota associated with denture-related stomatitis. Scientific Reports (2019).